Bob Shell wrote:
On Feb 15, 2006, at 12:06 AM, Gonz wrote:
I actually believe that isolationism in the form of boycotts has the
opposite effect intended. I.e. buying Chinese goods actually helps
them move toward more freedom because of the injection of
capitalistic ideas into their cultural fabric. This helps break down
some of the extreme forms of repression we have seen in the past.
The chinese government of today, while still totalitarian, is a long
way from the days of old under the control of Mao and his cronies.
They were quite isolated back then, much like North Korea is today.
So let's all go out and buy North Korean goods?
You know, it doesnt make sense, but yes. If they exported any, that is.
Creating a middle class through economic enlightenment is a first
step. China is already doing this and if we were to isolate them
because of their government's harsh internal political policies, then
they would revert back to the old ways. North Korea controls its people
through a combination of isolationism and repression. The North Korean
people, sadly, dont know any better because of the former, so they just
take the latter with a grain of salt and (mostly) accept their fate.
Bob
--
Someone handed me a picture and said, "This is a picture of me when I
was younger." Every picture of you is when you were younger. "...Here's
a picture of me when I'm older." Where'd you get that camera man?
- Mitch Hedberg
